Electrically operable puppets



April 19, 1960 D. J. EVANS 2,932,919

ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE PUPPETS Filed July 15, 1957 3 a A 1 a M :a 7, 6 g mmvrox I 5' DW/GHT' J. E wwfi wm/LM United States Patent ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE ruprnrs Dwight J. Evans Milwaukee, Wis. Application July 15, 1957, Serial No. 672,004

1 Claim. (21. 46-245) This invention relates'to improvements in electrically operable puppets and more particularly to a novel electrically operable performing puppet assembly.

An object of the invention is. to provide a device of the type which will be operable manually by a child to close an electrical circuit intermittently during pretended playing of a horn, and wherein the puppet movements are responsive thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a battery operated device of the type which will be economical to operate and relativelysimplein construction.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of an animated puppet toy embodying the invention with the horn switch device.

Fig. 2 is a frontview in elevation of the puppet box or stage,

Fig. 3 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of the device.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the horn switch.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view 'from the side showing the switch.

Fig. 6 is a view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to a casing or open front box provided with drapes 11, 12 and 13 to simulate a miniature stage. The casing has a top 14, bottom 15 and side walls 16 and 17 all attached to a back 18. A. pair of brackets 19 and 20 journal a crankshaft 21. A large gear 22 fixed to the crankshaft 21 is meshed with gear 23 on the shaft In use, pushing down any one of the horn buttons 46 closes the circuit thru the plates 37 and 38, the horn and buttons being formed of metal, and with each clos- 1 ing "of the circuit the motor 25 moves the cranks to move the arms 31 and legs 32 of the puppets 26. When 'a hornbutton 46 is depressed it contacts the top plate 37, and the current is conducted down through the rod 46a through the body of the horn and to the bottom plate 38, thus completing the circuit. Intermittent depression of a horn button or buttons 46- Will cause like intermittent movement of the members of the puppets 26. The dry batteries 34 and are held between the clips 47 secured to the bottom wall 15. A wire 48 leads to one pole of the motor 25, and a second wire 49 leads from the other pole of the motor to the binding post 50} A wire 4711 leads from one clip 47 to the other binding post 51. Wires 52 and 53 lead from binding posts 50 24 of electric motor 25. A plurality of puppets 26 are dependingly supported on the slotted guide plate 27 by suitable means 28. A plurality of cords 29 connect the cranks 30 with the arms '31 and legs 32 of the puppets 26. A floor 33 covers a pair of conventional dry batterie 34 and 35.

A switch 36 is comprised of a pair of rectangular plates 37 and 38 formed of conductive material, separated by the insulators at 39 and 40 and secured to clips 41 and 42 by the threaded means 43. The clips are engaged about the tubular portion at 44. of the horn 45.

and 51 to the plates 37 and 38 of the switch 36.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modifications in structure and design, without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appended claim. 9

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A miniature stage, a crank shaft journalled horizontally therein near the top thereof, a plurality of puppets dependingly held under the crankshaft, a pluralityiof cords connecting members and extremities of the puppets to the cranks of said crankshaft, a horizontal slotted spacer partition under the crankshaft as a guide for the cords, an electric motor geared to the crankshaft, an electrically conductive simulated musical horn, at least one vertical movable element on said horn, a button topping said vertically movable element said vertical element and button being electrically conductive, a pair of parallel horizontally disposed plates slotted to receive'a portion of the vertically movable element in spaced relation therefrom, and insulating means spacing said plates at their ends, whereby when the button is pressed'downwardly into contact with the top plate, an electrical circuit will be closed through the button and born to the bottom *plate to activate the motor and move the members and extremities of said puppets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Patented Apr. 19, 1960 1 

